It was a cold time.  He put the clock
in the refrigerator where he
could not hear it tick and tock.
Pulled down the covers,
we went over the moon.
I don't know why, I don't know why
I don't know why I am not in love with you.

Things are never quite what they seem.
I've changed my perception,
I have a brand new dream.
Quicker than sand
people change it's true.
I don't know why, I don't know why
I don't know why I am not in love with you.

And I never knew why this city moved me,
so you're the only proof I've ever found.

There were times I'd swear
he was almost all there.
So I mark that moment, I pierce my ear.
He said I made the room's atmosphere renew.
And I don't know why, I don't know why
I don't know why I am so in love with you.

Well we filled the car and I took the clock
from the refrigerator,
I got in my car, drove down that block.
Now he has enough to warm the present blues.
I don't know why, I don't know why
I don't know why I am not in love with you.

Sylvie (for Sylvia Plath)

Sad sad Sylvie strains at the T.V.,
behind white sheets of ice, hospital bars.
Dreams of the slow rain
and thoughts of the early train
spill out in prose from the mouth of the jar.
Don't the heavys get scary with such insight.
Rewrite rewrite.

Sad sad Sylvie has a strange history
of ice blue nurse eyes with mechanical hearts.
They say, "We'll take you home now
where there's nobody waiting,
there's nobody makin' plans,
there's nobody makin' demands."

Ariel Ariel, all good girls they'll never tell,
why the hard lines quicken
when the emptiness thickens.

Sad Sylvie, tell me where is the balancing
when you give it all away
and you forget to take.
So you want everything.
But you can't have everything.
The smoke from the fast guns
and the crying mistakes.
Don't the heavys get scary with such insight.
Rewrite rewrite.

Sad sad Sylvie, you know she took the easy street
where humans fall hard
and they shatter like good glass.
From the iron hand of man
to the black heart of a German,
we can't even begin to try and understand.
Don't the heavys get scary with such insight.
Rewrite rewrite rewrite.

Ice

Red ball glittering dusk.
Out of my grasp testing my trust.
Which one of us?
Walls climb cathedral heights.
Echo beating wings and fragile goodbyes.
Hovering sun go down.
Leave the night to be a potent rite
in transforming this ice.

You now there.
Draggin' 'round your jesus hair.
Me here.  Certainly a serpent.
I swear I see us.
I swear.  Watching from a garden wall.
Let's not fall.
Leave the night to be a potent rite
in transforming this ice.

You and I are deep in the dark,
we're deep in the dark.
Steer me into the light when I call.

Time's fire go ahead consume me.
I'm a liar, you could burn me in the cold.
Nothin' came between us.
In grey I escape.
From my side the weight of love
will slip away.
Cast off that stone.
And leave the night to be a potent rite
in transforming this ice.
Leave the night to be a potent rite
in transforming this ice.

© 1993, 1995 BMI Vicky Pratt Keating